Fractionating column



Oct. 14, 1930. R. E. wlLsoN ET AL 1,778,475

FRACTIONATING COLUMN Filed Aug, 6, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet l l, ,j l1 A3 Oct. 14, 1930. R. E. wlLsoN ET AL 1,778,475

FRACTIONATING COLUMN Filed Aug. 6, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,794 u Z3 u Oct. 14, 1930. R. E. WILSON ET AL 1,778,475

FRACTIONAT ING COLUMN Filed Aug. e. 1927 s sheets-Sheet 3 man@ l' f w" Patented Oct. 14, 1930 UNITED STATES PME-.NT oar-ica ROBERT E. WILSON, OI' CHICAGO, 4ILLINOIS, AND WILLIAM H. BAHLKE, 0I WRITING, i INDIANA., ASSIGNORS T STAIDABD OIL COMPANY, OF WRITING, INDIANA., A w3- IQRATION .0F INDIANA rn'acrrona'rmc comm Application led Anmut 8, 1927. Serial No. 211,158.

fully understood from the following description thereof, illustrated by the accompanyin drawings, in whichigure 1 1s a view in side elevation of a portion of a column or tower embodying the present invention; Figs. 2 and 3 are diagrammatic sectional views showing the relative placing of the parts of successive plates wit in the tower; Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4 of Fig. 5; Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view on the line 5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a view taken as indicated by the line 6 of Fig 4; and Fig. is a view taken as indicated by the line 7 of The fraction'ating column shown in the present applicationvis similar to and an improvement upon the fractionating column shown in copending patent application, Serial No. 6152, filed January 31, 1925by ourselves and others as co-inventors, which has matured into Patent No. 1,716,939 on June 11, 1929. Since the two fractionating columns are similar in general construction and operation, we shall not describe the present one in as much detail as the other. We shall attempt more particularly to point out the differences beween the present device and the one shown in the other patent application referred to.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, in Fig. 1 is shown a portion of the vertical cylindrical shell 10 of a fractionating column or tower embodying the present invention. This shell is provided with manholes 11 arranged in vertical rows, alternate manholes being set at an angle to one another. These manholes are preferably of a size such that the sections forming the plates of the column may be inserted therethrough.

As will be seen from Figs. 5 and 7, at suitable vertical intervals within the tower, the circular flanges -12 are secured to its inner wall, and on these are mounted the plates 13.

The plates are preferably formed of sections with downwardly projecting flanges 14 at their sides for joinin them together; and alternate plates are pre erably arranged at an angle to cach other, for example, at substantiall right angles.y

Each of t e plates is provided with a number of upward y projecting .nipples 15 referably of substanatially rectangular s ape. These projecting ni ples provide for the passage o gas from t e vapor space below the plate to that above it, and each of the nipples 1s provided with a substantially rectangular bu ble cap 16, the lower edge of which is suitably serrated as at 16. The nipples 15 and caps 16 may be so arranged as to provide a plurality of rows of bubble caps substantially equally spaced from one another, the rows extelnding substantially transversely across the p ates.

At diametrically opposite sides the plates are provided with u wardly projecting dams 17, 17 so arranged t at when the sections are properly placed, a pool 18 is formed, the wall thereof formed by dams 17 17 substantially paralleling the rows of the bubble cap 16. One such pool 18 is formed at diametncally opposed points on said plate, and these pools receive the liquid reiiux discharge from the next plate above through the drain lor discharge pipes 23 in the usual manner. The pools 18 preferably include an area extending substantlally the width of the row of bubble caps andthe overiow from the next plate above isdistributed from such pools over the dams 17 17 between the bubble caps. While such a distributing pool 18 is desirable, -the overflows may deliver directly into the pool created by the lower dams, which will in general give adequate distribution.

Adjacent the inner ends of each row of bubble caps there is provided another somewhat lower dam, such dams being indicated by 19, 19 respectively. The ends of these dams are preferably curved backwardly around the ends of each row of bubble caps and raised somewhat as indicated by 19 the extreme ends of such dams bein carri entirely back to the wall of the s ell as indicated by 19". It will be seen, therefore, that each row of bubble caps 16 is enclosed between the two dams 17, and 19, theldam 17 being somewhat higher than the dam 19.

Alternate plates are setA substantially at Qin right angles to each other, and in the operation of the device, liquid ows through the discharge pipes 23 from one plate into the ls 18 in the'next adjacent plate below. Fi'bm the pools 18 the liquid streams over the dani 17 and'travels in approximately uniform streams around and between the bubble caps and then ilows over the dams 19 to the central portion of the plate where it moves tothe overiiow pipes. This course is indicated by the arrows in Fig. 4.

One of the particular features of thepresent nventionis the provision of the dams '19 adjacent the ends of the bubble caps, such damsl serving to retard the escape of liquid on-the'sp'aces between the bubble caps and help maintain a more or less substantially ui'ifrn depth of liquid around all Aparts of thebubble caps. When the dams are dispensed with, the depth of liquid around the' Eefunderstood that it is capablJIJ 0f man? I lldiiications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made t'tliout'departing from the spirit and scope 'tlie invention disclosed in the appended claims, in which it is our intention to claim.

` llnov'elty in our invention as broadly as pos'sibleinview of the prior art. k'Vhat we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

if 1. In a ractionating plate of the bubble t f ef; oppositely disposed dams on said plate orming pools for the reception of overiiow liquid from higher plates; two 'rows of vapor A rptakes and bubble caps between said dams,

' said bubble caps being substantially evenly spaced; two relatively lower dams between `therows of bubble caps, saidlower dams being: substantially parallel with the first mentioned dams; and discharge meansoppo- "sitely disposed on said plate between said lower dams.

` 2. Inv a fractionating plate ofthe bubble type; oppositely disposed dams on said plate 'forming-pools for the reception of overflow .liquid from higher plates; discharge means disposed'between said dams; a row of vapor )iptakcs and bubble caps on said plate on each E'side of said median line, said bubble caps being `disposed to divide into substantially equal streams the 'overflow liquid issuing "from the pools formed by said dams; and anlother lower dam on said' plate on each side of said' median line, said two lower dams lying between the two rows of vapor uptakes and bubble caps.

"3. A fractionating. plate as claimed iuv claim 2, the ends of the lower dams being curved outwardly around the ends of each row of vapor uptakes and bubble caps.

4. A fractionating plate of the bubble typehaving oppositely disposed dams to -form pools; two groups of vapor `uptakes with bubble caps between said dams two lower dams between the two groups of vapor:

uptakes with bubble caps; and 'an'outlet between the two lower dams.

5. A fractionating plate of the bubble type having oppositely .disposed dams to form pools; two groups of vapor uptakes with bub ble caps between said dams; two lower dams between the two groups of' vapor uptakes with bubble caps, 'and two loutlets between the lower dams at the ends of the space between such lower dams. Y

6. A fractionating plate of the bubble en r type having two oppositely disposed dams` forming pools; two groups of vapor uptakes with bubble caps between said dams two lower dams between the two groups of vapor uptakes with bubble caps, the ends of each lower dam being curved backwardly around 'ing` pools; two groups '.ofvapor uptakes with bubble 'caps'between said' dams: two lower dams between the two groups'of vapor up; takes with bubble caps, the ends of each lower dam beingl curved backwardlyaround one group of vapor uptakes with bubble caps lto join the ends of the adjacent higher dam.; and two outlets between the two lower dams arranged at the lends of the space'between' such higher dams.

8. In a fractionating column of the bubble type; a plate with a discharge opening; 'a dam on said plate adapted to maintain an .inflet pool of liquid on one side thereof. said liq uid adapted to 'escape from said pool by flowing over said dam: and a second lower damvon said platefadapted to retard the liquid ow- 'ing over said first mentioned dam andmaintain a second pool between said dams, said liquid adapted toi-escape from said secondL mentioned pool to the discharge opening in the plate by Howing over said lower dain; and vapor uptakes covered with bubble` caps located between said dams. i

9. -In a fractionating column of the bubble type; a plate with a discharge opening; a

pair of dams on said plate'adapted to v maintaln inlet pools of liquid Ion the outer'sides thereof, said liquidadapted to escape from said pools by fiowing over said dams; and a second pair of lower dams 'on said plate between said rst mentioned dams and adapted to retard the "liquid flowing over :said first mentioned dams and maintain two' additional p ools, said'liquid adapted to escape from said the plate by iowing over said lower dams;

and vapor uptakes covered with bubble caps located in said additionalpools.

10. In a fractionating column of the bubble type; a plate with a discharge opening; a dam on said plate adapted to maintain a pool of liquid thereon, said liquid adapted to escape from said pool to the discharge opening in the plate by iiowing over said dam; and vaporuptakes` coveredwith bubble caps located in said pool.

11. A ractionating plate of the bubble type having discharge outlets; two dams maintaining two pools of liquid, the outllow from each pool being regulated by one of said dams and delivering into a channel leading to the discharge outlets; and vapor uptakes covered with bubble caps in said pools.

12. A fractionating plate of the bubble type having discharge outlets; two dams maintaining two pools of liquid, the outflow from eachv ool .being regulated by one of said dams and delivering into a common channel leading to the discharge outlets; and vapor uptakes coveredv with bubble caps in said pools.

13. A fractionating .plate of the bubble type having discharge outlets; two dams maintaining two pools of liquid, the outflow from each pool being regulated by one of said dams and delivering into a common channel parallel with the.l dams leading to the discharge outlets; and va or uptakes covered with bubble caps in sai pools.

14. A ractionating plate of` the bubble typehaving discharge outlets; two dams maintaining two pools of liquid, the outow from each pool being regulated by one of said dams and delivering into a channel leading to the discharge outlets; two higher dams regulating the inflow to said pools and maintaining v two higher inlet pools; and vapor uptakes covered with bubble caps in sain 1 pools.

In witness whereof, we-have hereunto set our hands this 28th day of July, 1927 ROBERT-E. WILSON.

WILLIAM H. BAHLKE. 

